The DOJ and state attorneys general are advocating for the court to compel Google to divest its Chrome browser and terminate its multi-billion dollar payments to companies like Apple that secure its status as the default search engine.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is backing the DOJ's proposal for Google to share search data with competitors, asserting that there are adequate privacy safeguards in place.

AI startup Anthropic, which collaborates with Google, argues that requiring advance notice of Google's AI investments could deter funding for smaller AI companies and ultimately harm competition in the sector.

The FTC believes that increased competition in the market would pressure Google to improve its privacy practices.

Google contends that moving towards non-exclusive agreements, which it has already begun implementing, is a more suitable solution to the issues raised.

The proposal also suggests the creation of a compliance committee to ensure adherence to the new regulations, mirroring past FTC privacy settlements.

As the case approaches its conclusion in May 2025, its outcome could significantly reshape the landscape of internet search by potentially reducing Google's dominance.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is pushing a proposal aimed at addressing Google's alleged illegal monopoly in the online search market, following a ruling from August 2024.

Concerns have been raised by the DOJ and state attorneys regarding Google's potential expansion of its dominance into artificial intelligence (AI) markets.

In response to the DOJ's proposal, Google's CEO Sundar Pichai has expressed opposition, claiming it would jeopardize the company's intellectual property and user privacy.